Saturday Dolphins Mailbag: Tua, Hall of Fame, Cap Space, and More

Part 1 of the Super Bowl weekend SI Fan Nation All Dolphins mailbag:

From dolphinsgm2021 (@dolphinsgm2019):

Crossman? That’s the?

Hmm, that’s not much of a question. If I’m reading this correctly, guess you’re asking me what his status is in light of the mediocre performance by the special teams in 2022, and my answer is that Mike McDaniel obviously believes the special teams will turn around next season or he doesn’t have a better alternative in mind.

From Mr Negative (@Macdaddy35Mac):

Do you see Tua earning a black belt quickly in judo classes and will he master the art of falling down?

Yeah, don’t know about earning a black belt, though that’s obviously a cool thing to have. And the “art of falling down,” I’m going to suggest is a lot different when competing in judo as opposed to being slung around by a 250-pound, 300-pound defender. I still stick to my point that much more than judo classes, the biggest key to Tua avoiding bad hits like he took last year is to get rid of the ball if there’s nothing there.

From Neco (@NecoOrtiz1):

If Hendon Hooker is available with Miami's first pick, shouldn't they at least consider it? Not as an instant starter considering he's injured, but for the future? Insurance policy.

Hey Neco, yeah, I think I like that line of thinking, though I’m not sure about using the top pick, which will come in the second round. Hooker is projected as a Day 3 prospect because of his age, the torn ACL he sustained and the offense at Tennessee which is conducive to putting up big numbers in college but doesn’t necessarily translate to the NFL. The Dolphins don’t have picks in the fourth or fifth round at this time, which means they’d have to use one of their two third-rounders or their sixth-rounder (provided they don’t make a trade). I think taking a shot with one of the third-rounders might be worth it.

From John Flora (@Capt_Cavephin):

Which drafted rookies from 2022 do you expect to contribute in 2023?

Well, there were only four drafted rookies in 2022 and they were Channing Tindall, Erik Ezukanma, Cameron Goode and Skylar Thompson. Of the four, I would have the most hope in 2023 for Ezukanma based on what we saw from him in the preseason.

From Nicolas Kaoukis (via email):

Salut Alain, hope all is well. Nick from Montreal here. With all the negativity that has come out this week surrounding Butch Barry and his relationship with the Broncos players on the their offensive line, are you surprised that the Dolphins hired him? I mean, he hasn’t even stepped through the door yet and there is already controversy around him. I do not know much about Butch Barry, but how do you feel about the signing and do you think he can turn things around for himself and the O-line in Miami? P.S. I always like ending my messages with an Expos question, so here it goes. Best closer in Expos history: Jeff Reardon or John Wetteland?

Hey Nicolas, my answer to the Butch Barry question is he’s not going to be expected to turn around the offensive line but rather work in collaboration with Mike McDaniel and OC Frank Smith to get the most out of that group. And the fact he’s got history with McDaniel tells you he knows what the head coach will want from his O-line. This isn’t a case where the head coach hires an O-line coach and turns the whole unit over to him, which is why the criticism about Barry’s work in Denver doesn’t necessarily faze me. As for the Expos question (always love those), Reardon was a very good relief pitcher, but Wetteland was a great closer.

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From Three Chords & The Truth (@CoachRich_61):

When will the team start creating cap space?

Hey Coach Rich, the Dolphins don’t have to get under the salary cap until the start of the league year, March 15. And at that point, the top 51 rule is in effect, where only the top 51 contracts count against the cap (lasts until the regular season). So we’re looking at one month before the Dolphins have to get cap compliant. In that time, there will be players released, maybe some extensions (to lower cap hits) and contract restructurings (those usually aren’t announced).

From d. Edward (@Syr2Pitt2SD):

After hearing stories about our new offensive line coach, it sort of cancels out my excitement for the Fangio hiring. Have you heard anything good about this new offensive line coach?

Yeah, the reports out of Denver weren’t exactly terribly positive, nor did we hear great things from Butch Barry’s one season as O-line coach at the University of Miami. What I would say, though, is that Mike McDaniel obviously likes Barry and they’re on the same page, and also understand that offensive coordinator Frank Smith is pretty involved in the coaching of the offensive line, so it’s not like it's all Barry’s responsibility and nobody else’s.

From Dave (@angryvet59):

Not saying Super Bowl 2023 season but barring injuries (not just Tua) & the defense adjusting to new scheme, how do you feel about a deep playoff run for Miami?

Hey Dave, by deep playoff run, I’m assuming you mean getting to the Super Bowl, and I’d say there’s reason to be optimistic but at the same time would caution against making assumptions. For example, yes, Vic Fangio had great results as DC when he was with the 49ers in the early 2010s and then for a year or two in Chicago, but his arrival doesn’t automatically mean the Dolphins defense becomes a top 5 group immediately. There’s also the issue of all the young stud QBs in the AFC the whole conference will have to navigate, with Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert and Trevor Lawrence. So let’s be optimistic, but also understand a lot of things will have to go right.

From Vegas Baby (@VegasHerrle):

How have Fangio's defenses historically done against running QBs like Allen? My guess is that simply by going from a man defense to a zone is already going to help, no?

Yeah, playing zone makes it easier to deal with running QBs like Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson because defenders are facing the offensive backfield as opposed to being focused strictly on the receiver they’re covering in man, and the numbers do indicate some level of success by Fangio against running QBs. While Fangio was head coach with Denver, Allen played two games against the Broncos and ran 12 times for 89 yards (6-45 per game) and Jackson had seven carries for only 28 yards when Baltimore played Denver in 2021.

From Carm The Charm (via email):

Alain, enjoy your work! Longtime Dolphins fan, north of the border…how long?? Formerly had a bruiser Yellow Labrador Retriever named Zonk! His namesake actually autographed a photo of my old dog back in the day…but I digress… Today, we all rejoice and whole heartedly celebrate #54 and his long-awaited Call to the Hall but it pales in comparison to #67 “Kooch” and his agonizing wait. Travesty! It’s not hard to get cranked up for ZT but it doesn’t feel right to celebrate a very, very good Dolphins LB over Kuechenberg’s Extensive Resume. I won’t bore you with his credentials, it’s a long accomplished list; Shula always said he was either the toughest or in the top tier of toughest players to ever play for him. The aforementioned Csonka would readily admit that his bust rests in Canton because of guys like Kooch. Nevertheless, my question is simply: Is there a past player, ZT included who deserves to be the next Dolphin in Canton BEFORE Bob Kuechenberg????

Hey there, you actually don’t have to list Kooch’s credentials because, as someone who has watched the team since the 1970s, I’m very familiar with them. And the simple answer to your question is, no, there isn’t a former Dolphins player more deserving of Hall of Fame induction (who isn’t already in) than Kuechenberg. And I do believe the Seniors Committee eventually will get him in Canton, where he belongs.

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